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Ó Muilleoir calls for provision of Irish language services

Visiting the national Eisteddfod in Ynys Mon/Anglesey at the invitation of the Eisteddfod and Welsh Finance Minister Mark Drakeford, Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir called on British Secretary of State James Brokenshire to move now on the provision of Irish language services in areas under his government’s control.

“The British Government retains control over the tax offices, Border Controls, Electoral Commission, Passport Office and the NIO itself as well as many other agencies and services.

Eleven years after the British signed up to the St Andrew’s Agreement commitment on an Irish Language Act, there has been no provision of Irish in any of those services or agencies.“The British Government can no longer mirror the DUP approach to the Irish language. It must provide services to Irish speakers in the North in every area of government, which it continues to control.

“In Wales, all services delivered by the British Government are bilingual. Why then is Irish banned from similar agencies and services in the North of Ireland.”During his visit to the national Welsh folk festival, Ó Muilleoir met with the Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws.